USA – Flash Floods After Hurricane Delta Dumps 445mm of Rain in Louisiana

Delta made landfall 09 October 2020 as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h (100 mph). The storm began to lose strength as it moved inland and has since been downgraded to a Tropical Depression.

Heavy winds downed trees and power lines. Some 615,000 homes and businesses along the Gulf Coast without power as of 10 October. Delta also dumped heavy rainfall, causing floods in parts of Louisiana and later Georgia.

Floods in Atlanta, Georgia, 10 October 2020. Photo: Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department

Louisiana

Delta drenched southwestern Louisiana with heavy rainfall. The National Weather Service reported 17.57 inches (446mm) of rain in Calcasieu Parish in a 48 hour period to 10 October.

Flooding was reported in the Lake Charles metropolitan area, where heavy rain had also increased levels of the Calcasieu river, which is expected to remain above Major Flood Stage for the next few days.

Delta hit areas of Louisiana already severely affected by Hurricane Laura 6 weeks ago. The governor’s office said that as of 10 October some 9,441 people were in shelters. Of these, 935 were Delta evacuees.

Levels of the Calcasieu River at White Oak Park, Louisiana. Image: NWS / NOAA

 

Levels of the Calcasieu River near Oberlin, Louisiana. Image: NWS / NOAA

Georgia

The remnants of Delta also brought heavy rain to other south eastern states, with flooding reported in the Atlanta area in Georgia.

The Atlanta Fire Department said it responded to “over a dozen calls” for vehicles stuck in floodwaters late on 10 October 2020.

Levels of the Peachtree Creek at Atlanta jumped from around 4 feet to over 20 feet and above major Flood Stage in the space of a few hours late on 10 October 2020.

Levels of Peachtree Creek at Atlanta, Georgia. Image: NWS / NOAA